Fans of Michael Jackson will have a chance to get their hands on a slice of his home life as his most personal possessions go under the hammer.

Items up for sale at the auction in Beverly Hills, California, include elaborate furnishings and ornaments from the singer's Neverland Ranch, where he lived from 1988 to 2005.

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A cabinet with an attached mirror, on which Jackson scrawled words to motivate him for concert training, is one of the prized lots, as is a blackboard with an "I (heart) Daddy" message from Jackson's daughter Paris.

That item has a starting price of £250-£400 but is expected to fetch more.

The auction house recreates Jackson's former home

One item missing from the haul is the bed on which Jackson died, held back at the wishes of his family.

In total, more than 500 lots will be up for sale, and all are displayed to potential buyers in a recreation of Jackson's famous ranch.

Darren Julien, of sale organisers Julien's Auctions, said: "The pieces that are really going to sell for a lot are the items that can be identified as being associated with Michael Jackson, like the armoire from his private bedroom.

"He wrote on the mirror so when Michael would see himself in the mirror he could see the notes he made to encourage himself to perform."

Fans set up a Christmas tree at the auction house

Fans of the singer have turned the outside of the auction house into a temporary shrine, complete with Christmas tree.

Jamie Khawaja said she hoped others would feel the presence of the star.

"We want people when they come and see all this beautiful stuff that was in his last home just to be embraced by his spirit.

"Especially during the holidays, it is all about love and friendship and coming together and that is what he was all about so we did all this for him and we had a great time doing it."